Yorkshire rail upgrade plans to introduce four fast trains an hour between Leeds and Sheffield
Early investment will focus on electrification and upgrades between Sheffield and Leeds
The introduction of four fast trains an hour, between Leeds and Sheffield, are among a host of planned rail upgrades in Yorkshire.
Leaders from across Yorkshire and the national rail sector met today (Friday, June 12) for the inaugural meeting of the White Rose Rail Board, chaired by Lord Blunkett, signalling a major step forward in positioning Yorkshire at the forefront of delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and transforming connectivity across the North.
The Board - bringing together the Mayors of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire, alongside the Department for Transport, Treasury, Network Rail and industry partners - will turn shared ambition into delivery, building on the January 2026 agreement to work in partnership on Phase 1 of NPR.
Early investment will focus on electrification and upgrades between Sheffield and Leeds, supporting up to four fast trains an hour and significantly improving reliability and capacity on this key route.
“Yorkshire is at the front of the queue on Northern Powerhouse Rail,” said South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard. “The first phase will deliver our ambition for four fast trains an hour between Sheffield and Leeds.
“Working together - with our fellow Mayors across Yorkshire and beyond, government and industry partners - we are building a rail network that works for us here in Yorkshire and sets us up for the future.”
Plans to increase capacity at Leeds will mean more trains can run to and from the station, while similar plans at Sheffield station will enable longer trains, more direct services and stronger connections across the region.
Upgrades to York station will also unlock faster, more reliable ‘turn up and go’ services across the North, improving connections to Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Bradford while supporting the visitor economy and wider region.
In February, Northern officially launched their new ‘Yorkshire Flyer’ service that connects Leeds and Sheffield in 47 minutes - cutting journey times and providing more than 30,000 extra seats a week.
Making just one stop at Wakefield Westgate, the service runs once every hour in both directions, alongside the hourly fast CrossCountry service.
“We made the case as Yorkshire Mayors that we needed better connectivity between our biggest cities – and the Government listened,” said Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin. “Improvements to our rail network are desperately needed. Working together, we will turn the Northern Powerhouse Rail plans into action.
“The prize is a network fit for the 21st century – better-connections for our communities and businesses, new jobs and growth across our region and beyond.”
Building on the Yorkshire Plan for Rail that he authored last year, Lord Blunkett will provide clear, joined-up leadership to drive decisions on scope, development and delivery.
Today’s meeting comes as the Government commits up to £45 billion to NPR, improving connections across northern towns and cities. Yorkshire is at the heart of Phase 1 - and already moving at pace.
With sustained partnership working, it is hoped that the White Rose Rail Board will play a key role in delivering faster, more reliable rail services, stronger connections between towns and cities, and a step-change in opportunity across Yorkshire and the North.